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Question

RAM Upgrade

Aug 26, 2017 2:58AM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: RAM
Aug 26, 2017 3:18AM PDT

It's a bad idea to have different RAM-sticks in one machine. If you feel you need more than the existing 8GB (really? why?) buy 2 new 8GB sticks (if your machine supports that) for a total of 16 GB.
That's only beneficial if your current 8GB is a limiting factor for the performance. We don't know. You do, by checking the current memory usage in Task Manager.

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Re: RAM
Aug 26, 2017 7:39AM PDT

Can you explain why having different RAM chips is a bad idea?

If the the 8GB chip will work, increase my RAM and not cause any problems then I'd like to install the chip so this post was just to check I won't do any damage to my laptop or decrease the performance without realising.

So would my laptop perform better with the 2 4GB sticks currently installed or with 1 4GB and 1 8GB. Increasing my RAM would certainly be beneficial to me and it seems a waste to leave the 8GB stick lying around.

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Many reasons.
Aug 26, 2017 7:50AM PDT

Bear in mind the why you should not mix discussion is well done. So the short versions are, a) you won't get the memory in dual channel mode with mixed sizes. B) the set runs at the lowest speed of the set. C) you may get unexplainable crashes and hangs. D) other issues.

As to damage E) some sticks take a lower or higher voltage and in 99.9% of systems there is only one supply for all the sticks so depending on implementation the BIOS might read the SPID of say stick one to set this and the other sticks may be over or under volted.

This doesn't mean it doesn't work in all cases. It is however to be avoided.

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Answer
It's not clear what your saying
Aug 26, 2017 7:18AM PDT

It seems you have 2 4GB sticks but then you link to a 8GB stick and say this is what I have.

As Kees said only you can tell if increasing ram would be of any value.

For most folks 8GB is ample.

What are trying to fix?

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Re: It's not clear what you're saying
Aug 26, 2017 7:34AM PDT

My laptop currently has the 2 4GB sticks yes. I also have the 8GB stick that is linked just loose and not in any pc.

While 8GB is probably fine it seems a waste not to use the spare stick I have lying around especially as I use Adobe Suite + Ableton Live + iTunes etc frequently. So I didn't mean will more RAM be beneficial, I meant will the spare stick actually improve my computers performance or is a 4GB stick sometimes better than an 8GB stick. Sorry for the confusion, I just don't really know anything about how RAM works to be honest.

If the the 8GB chip will work, increase my RAM and not cause any problems then I'd like to install the chip so this post was just to check I won't do any damage to my laptop or decrease the performance without realising.

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Ram
Aug 26, 2017 7:54AM PDT

Your 2 4GB sticks are 2400 ram.
If you remove one of those and install a 8GB stick @ 1600 speed your will increase capacity but decrease speed.
Assuming it works at all you would have to test to see what the impact is.
I would not do this as that's not the proper ram for that machine.

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Answer
Re: RAM Upgrade
Aug 27, 2017 11:39PM PDT

If you are just trying to replace those ‘4GB’ RAM modules with this 8GB RAM chip then you should buy it.
But if you are trying to swap just one 4GB Ram with this 8GB Ram module then note this:

1. The ‘L’ factors i.e. low voltage functionality will not work. Because you are using a regular voltage RAM and therefore both the RAM modules will work at the regular voltage (1.5)

2. As R.Profitt said, there are chances of your system crashing because the RAM modules may not work together. This is a rare case and can only happen if the clock speeds don’t match.

3. Your PC will work on lower capacity because the RAM is 1600MHz but your PC can support 2400MHz.